Progressive education influenced, but did not alter, the fundamental behaviorist-associationist model dominating education in the twentieth century. Post-industrial society will need the intellectual and creative abilities that the progressives fostered. Jean Piaget's work offers a model for growth and development that is an alternative to…

The Irish educational system in the period following Irish independence was heavily influenced by the Rev. Timothy J. Corcoran. Rejecting any sort of child-influenced curriculum, he called for a rigid classics-based education based on Catholic dogma with maximum emphasis on memorization and repetition rather than on inquiry. (IS)

A control group of students enrolled in a traditional program at Sinclair Community College was compared with an experimental group of College Without Walls (CWW) students. CWW students expressed significantly greater satisfaction with the accomplishment of numerous institutional goals than did their traditional student counterparts. (Author/MLW)

Children starting school today have already been trained to learn by television, and the skills they have developed may not be suitable for the print-oriented learning required in school. Differences in learning from electronic sources and from books are discussed, as are strategies teachers can use to help children adjust. (PP)

Compared effectiveness of a Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS)-style laboratory program in a university general biology course against a popular traditionally oriented program. Although learning gains for both groups were significant, students using the BSCS-style investigations scored significantly higher on a posttest of laboratory…

Compared direct and exploration methods of teaching overhand throwing to kindergartners. Children in the exploration treatment practiced with various balls and targets. Children given direct instruction threw only one type of ball and received specific demonstrations. The two methods did not produce different levels of throwing skill. (Author/SJL)

Science curriculum evaluation studies (1963-1978) were examined to assess impact of innovative curricula compared with traditional curricula on student learning outcomes. Results suggest students in secondary school science courses scored moderately better than students in traditional courses on innovative and neutral tests and negligibly lower on…

One group of undergraduate students were taught a one-hour computerized lesson on free body diagram analysis, developed at Iowa State University for use with the PLATO system. Other students studied the same material using worksheets. Both methods appeared to be equally effective although the computer system offered some instructional advantages.…

Reviews problems and successful techniques associated with various instructional systems including individualized instruction, personalized system of instruction, audiotutorial system, and others. Includes comments on behavioral objectives, mastery, and testing. (SK)

Noting the trend from traditional teacher-centered instruction to individualized, mixed ability teaching, the author suggests that the new methods require more work from teachers and that they need additional released time and assistance to cope. (SJL)

Reports that a sequential and largely student-centered experimental teaching method significantly reduced writing apprehension of college freshmen at a faster rate than conventional composition instruction, and that the experimental method produced writing at least as proficient in overall quality as that produced by conventional instruction. (GT)

Studies comparing team-taught and solitary-teacher-taught classes at the college level are discussed; then studies comparing three different teaching techniques, including team-teaching, are reviewed. It is noted that the number of such studies is small and the findings offer mixed results, supporting neither the critics nor the supporters of…

The author suggests that the issue of planned instruction will result in the bifurcation of the university. One part will be a "traditional" university, functioning more as an observer of the dominant society. The other will be a "relevant" university, serving as a public education, information, and training network closely…

Argues that the practices of higher education (e.g., classes, semesters, and grades) are increasingly incompatible with the purpose of maximizing student learning and growth. Discusses the affective and cognitive advantages of a mastery approach to granting credit. (AYC)

A survey of 900 Nottinghamshire primary teachers showed that, although they have great freedom in structuring their classes, most of those dealing with children over seven opt for highly traditional teaching methods. Survey results on class organization, class size, use of aides, and preferred instructional materials are summarized. (SJL)